Turbot under construction at the Lake company yard in Bridgeport, CT., September 28, 1911. Turbot was the result of a single boat contract awarded to Simon Lake in Fiscal Year 1910. Turbot was to be an improved Tuna (G-2). Although essentially the same size as Tuna she was about 20 tons heavier, with diesel rather than gasoline engines and a heavier armament (see below). Turbot was the first submarine built at the newly established Bridgeport yard. All of Lake's previous boats had been built by Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia. The company has just finished the framing and plating. The superstructure has not yet been installed, although her twin conning towers and the engine room access trunk can be seen.
National Archives photo.
This colorized photo shows G-3 sliding down the ways at Bridgeport, December 27, 1913. She had been renamed on November 17, 1911 while still on the ways. She is probably 70% complete at this point, with the superstructure and conning tower fairwater installed, along with the propellers, rudder, and diving planes. Strangely, the Lake Torpedo Boat Company had filed for bankruptcy six weeks prior to this photo being taken. The boat was launched so that it could be towed down the coast to the Brooklyn Navy Yard for completion. This would delay her commissioning considerably. In a herculean financial effort, Simon Lake was able to reorganize his company and eventually emerge from bankruptcy, but financial instability plagued the company until its end in 1924.
National Archives photo.
G-3 hauled out on the marine railway at the Lake Torpedo Boat Company yard, Bridgeport, CT., December 9, 1915. The Brooklyn Navy Yard finished the boat and prepared it for sea trials. Those trials showed that it lacked reserve buoyancy and stability. By this time Lake had succeeded in reorganizing his company so the boat was returned to Bridgeport and hauled out on the marine railway there for modifications. Lake's solution for these problems was adding blister tanks on the exterior, and these are shown prominently in this photo. Just visible on the side of the blister tanks are the twin sets of amidships diving planes, folded up on the sides of the tanks. Her starboard propeller, rudder, and stern diving planes are just visible on the far left. The large circular plates on the side of the superstructure are flood ports for Lake's trademark watertight superstructure, intended to provide extra surface buoyancy. A pipe frame for a canvas bridge structure has been erected on the conning tower fairwater, but the canvas itself is missing. The bridge helm wheel is visible.
National Archives photo.
G-3 hauled out at Bridgeport, CT., December 9, 1915. This view from the starboard bow shows G-3's heavier armament. She was equipped with two 18" torpedo tubes in the torpedo room inside the hull (shown blistered out here) and two 18" tubes in the superstructure. The weapons in the upper tubes could not be accessed while underway and the tubes were only reloadable in-port. G-3 also had two more 18" tubes in the aft superstructure firing aft, and like the bow superstructure tubes they were single shot affairs. The object attached to the tip of the bow at the far right is a towing padeye.
National Archives photo.
A closeup of the photo on the previous page shows G-3 underway in the Thames River, CT., probably close to Submarine Base New London, summer 1916. The crew seem to be enjoying the weather and the trip on the river until the time comes for them to perform their next functions. At the top of the after periscope, flying from a "pigstick", is the ships commissioning pennant. Aft of this is the "T" shaped radio mast in its lowered position. Leaning against the lifeline stanchions, next to the conning tower fairwater, is the ship's gang plank.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.
National Archives photo.
USS D-1 (Submarine No. 17) and G-3 together, May 4, 1920 at Submarine Base New London, CT. Although both boats are considered harbor defense submarines, the tremendously rapid growth and advancement in just six years is very apparent here. G-3's sharply raked back bow and superstructure torpedo tubes are very apparent. She has had a permanent metal "chariot" style bridge structure added, a lesson learned from WWI patrol experience.
